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Bead Trends January 2012

Do you have your January Bead Trends issue yet? What to get a FREE one?

Dry Ice

Close Up

14K gold clasp

This necklace is in this issue.  It is ALL Swarovski crystals. Oh so pretty.

I’m in good company this month. There are some amazing designs in there.

Leave a comment and your name will be entered into a random drawing to win the January issue of Bead Trends. Winner will be posted, in this post on Monday, January 9th. Winner will NOT be notified, so please check back.

If you post this giveaway on your blog, FB, etc. come back and let me know.

It’s New Year’s Day, do you know where you muse is?

I hope I can help you find her this year.

So what is Echo Creative Club?  I’m looking for experienced jewelry designers to use my art beads and pendants for FREE.  I will be concentrating on my Peeled Paint art beads and Gin Blossoms for now.

What does the name, Echo Creative mean?  Echo is something you put out there and it comes back.  I put my beads out there and they come back in a creative design from you.

Guidelines:

Must have a blog of two years or more.

Experienced jewelry designers, preferably published in a magazine, but not required.

You’re required to design something by the 25th (ie, January 25 of this month) of that month and post on your blog.  This is not optional!

You will post your Echo Creative Club piece in our Flickr Group each month.

I will pay first class shipping charges, but if you want them sent priority mail or express, shipping charges are on you.  International applicants will have to pay All shipping charges.

I will give you a choice, providing there is one of what I’m offering for that month.  So lots of choices, peeled paint or gin blossom?  What color?

This post will become a tab at the top of my blog so I can keep you informed about who is participating each month.  You can even choose your own month(s).  All twelve or just one, two, three…

If I have an overwhelming response to this club I will choose more than one designer per month.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

 You will be given more information by email when you sign up.

BONUS: If you happen to submit your design to a magazine and it gets published in 2012, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to my website.

Who wants to take the first slot for January?  Will it be you?  You can contact me by email if you’re interested, NOT through this post.

I’m SO EXCITED about this I just want to pee my pants and shout it from the roof top.

This may not be for you, but if you know someone who might be interested, PLEASE, send them my way.

Thank you,

jeannie

This is last post for the Twelve Days Of Christmas. Thank you all for joining me. Tomorrow I will post the random winner. Shipping and Handling costs will be $16.45 and it will be sent Priority mail. Good Luck!

NOT INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

These are button wreath ornaments.  Aren’t they cute as a button? Unfortunately I did not have time to make one for the giveaway.  This one was sold in my auction.  Instead I will be giving away something else.

SUPPLIES:

Round-nose pliers
Wire cutter
16-gauge copper wire, or 22-gauge green floral wire, cut to 9-inch lengths
72 buttons for each wreath/my wreaths are 2 1/2 inches in diameter
Scissors
Satin ribbon, 1/8 inch wide and 6 inches long to hang wreath
Seam binding or ribbon for decorative bow

Make a small loop on one end of wire.

Thread buttons onto the wire until you have enough to form the sizeof the wreath you want.

Using pliers, bend the plain end of the wire around the looped end. This will form the wreath.

Use the satin ribbon to make a loop for hanging the wreath; tie the ribbon in a knot about 3 inches above the wreath.

Tie a bow of seam binding to decorate the wreath.

I will be giving away a few of my Peeled Paint Art Beads  and I’ll throw in one of my Christmas Yo-Yo Flowers.

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13. See Day 1 for more information.

Tuesday I will post the random winner on my blog. Shipping and Handling costs will be $16.45 and it will be sent Priority mail. Good Luck!

INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN

I do a little of my shopping at Trader Joe’s mainly for their marinated tofu and gluten - wheat free cereal.  This summer I asked the manager if they could save a bunch of their ground coffee containers like this one.

My plan was to fill them with cookies to give away at Christmas time to friends, family, neighbors, employees, co-workers, etc.  I altered each one differently. 

Supplies:

Coffee container
Magazine pages
Glue
Round Pencil
Nylon covered clothesline-optional

Clean out container and dry.  Tear out pages from magazine and cut off jagged edges.

Place pencil at tip of page on a diagonal, dab some glue about 1″ away and start to roll.  Remove pencil before it gets cover with the page.  Add glue as you roll.

Add glue to tip so it doesn’t unroll and hold in place until secure.  Be careful not to flatten the paper cylinder.  Make enough to cover your container.

Apply a strip of glue to container and add paper cylinder.  Place so both ends of cylinder are sticking out beyond container.  You will be trimming these off later.  Continue until your container is completely covered.

Place container on side and let dry overnight.  Trim off ends.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THIS CONTAINER FOR GOODIES – SKIP THIS PART.  OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE COVER OF THE CONTAINER TO SEAL.

Cut 1-1/2″ lengths of clothesline.  Feed ends into top of every other cylinder.

You can also cover them in pretty papers, Christmas paper, fibers, fabric, newspaper, paint, collage, add embellishments.  I did all of these.

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13. See Day 1 for more information.

Enjoy,

jeannie

INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

Really GREEN Star Ornaments.

Supplies:

Paper towels rolls
Acrylic paint and brush
Glue
Glitter
Cord or ribbon
Scissors
Embellishments for center

Smash a paper towel roll flat. Cut 1/2″ or 1″ strips.  You will need seven strips to make one ornament.

You can leave as is or paint them and add glitter.

Apply glue to one end of strip and align with next strip.  Press together.

Before you glue in the last strip, add the ribbon or cord.  Glue ends of ribbon between the last and first strip.

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13. See Day 1 for more information.

Enjoy,

jeannie

NOT INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

This summer my mom had these sitting on her table with flowers from her garden. I altered these jars for her years ago and when I saw them I wanted to share them with you.

This is a great way to recycle glass jars.

INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

SUPPLIES:

Glass jar – any size
Acrylic paint
Water
Heavy duty varnish
Paint brush
Wax paper
Sandpaper
Pretty ribbon or cord
Tag (I made my own)

Lightly run a piece of sandpaper around the inside of jar. Clean and throughly dry jar.

Squirt paint inside of jar and add a drop of water. Swirl paint around covering the entire inside and neck of jar.

Stand upside down on wax paper for about 15 minutes to drain off excess paint. Wipe paint off top lip of jar.

Let dry for two days before you add the heavy duty varnish to the inside.  This is really important.  Add two coats of varnish.

INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

This one looks awesome with candy canes in it.

NOT INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY - SOLD

This one I used two different acrylic paint colors.

Top View

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13. See Day 1 for more information.

Enjoy,

jeannie

I had to improvise today with this DIY Wall Art. The person who was suppose to do today’s tutorial backed out at the last minute. Unfortunately she was also doing “Day 12.” No worries, I work great under pressure.

NOT INCLUDED IN GIVEAWAY

DIY WALL ART

This is hanging in my house.  I used nine 4X6 individual picture frames and some very pretty art papers that will cost about $2 – $3 a 12X12 sheet.  Not cheap, but well worth it.  Cheap paper will make your wall art look cheap.

These black frames were originally glossy back, but I did not like the look of them with this paper so I sanded off the sheen.

Supplies:

9 – 4X6 black wood frames (Michael’s)
9 – 12X12 heavy stock sheets of art paper
Wood glue
Clamps
Scissors or paper cutter
Sandpaper
Mask

Take your sandpaper (wear mask) and sand down all sides of each frame. Wipe down with damp cloth to remove paint dust.

Glue frames together and use clamps to hold together. Let dry overnight.

Clean glass of each frame before you insert the paper. Cut down your art papers to 4X6 and place in frames.

Hang on wall and admire

For Sale

Now here is an easier version.  Buy a collage frame.  No gluing frames together.  I used a high quality frame from Michael’s for $40.  It was black and I “aged” it.

This is on sale for $50 (not including shipping).  It cost me more to make it.  If you buy this wall art I will throw in a photo journaling album worth $25 for FREE.  I made it with the same art paper in the frame.  Contact me by email if you’re interested in buying this.  All proceeds will go to the food shelf.

Free with purchase of Wall Art

This 10 page 5-1/2″ X 4-1/2″ photo journaling album has a pretty silk ribbon on the front.

Inside pages

Each page has a large photo mat and an additional pull out (to right) photo mat with a journaling tag for each page.

Inside Pages

Inside Pages

Inside Pages

Inside Pages

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13.  See Day 1 for more information.

Enjoy,

jeannie

Heather Powers, founder and editor of Art Bead Scene is hosting a ornament blog hop. We were asked to use an art bead in our ornament.

Christmas Ornament

This ornament I used one of Heather’s Mistletoe Focal Beads.

Ornament

I made the paper beads with a piece of my art work and the little flowers and spike in the center is polymer clay.

Join me today in the ABS ornament blog hop.

I will be including one of these ornaments in the giveaway.  You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13.  See Day 1 for more information.

Matchbook Cover Book. If you follow my blog you know that I make a lot of books of all kinds. This clever little book hearkens back to another era, when thoughts, poetry, and letters were carried close to the heart and closed to prying eyes.

Included In Giveaway

This is another GREEN project made with all recycled materials.

Supplies:

Corrugated box
10 – 3″X4″ of recycle brown paper or packaging. I used grocery bags.
Acrylic paint and brush
12″ of heavy thick hemp cord
Hole Punch (use small hole)
Embellishments optional

I keep my book embellishment free because I haul one around with me and I don’t want them to get caught on anything. Especially if you’re taking it in and out of your purse.

Cut a 3″X10″ piece from your corrugated box. On the back (smooth side up) score a line 3/4″ away from the left side along the narrow edge. Paint with acrylic paint, front and back and let dry overnight.

Mark holes 1/2″ away from the left edge of your paper pages and 1″ apart. Punch holes. I used the small hole punch with the Crop-A-Dial.

Line up one of the paper pages to the right side (scored side) and mark the holes on the cover and punch holes in cover.

Stack all the paper pages and lay them inside the cover (fluted side down) and bump them against your score line and fold the cover over the top of pages.

Thread each end of the hemp cord from the back to the front. Knot and tie in bow. Dab a little glue on the knot.

Inside look

These make great gifts and stocking stuffers.  This will be included in giveaway.

8 X 5.5 16 page Photo Journaling Album

I’m also giving away this 16 page Christmas Photo Journaling Album.  Go here to see more information and inside pages.  This album is worth $30

You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13.  See Day 1 for more information.

Enjoy,

jeannie

Felt Christmas Garland

Ever make a popcorn and cranberry garland? This felt garland is much easier and a great project to do with the kidlets.

Supplies:

3 different color sheets of felt
Shot glass
Pencil
Crochet string or thin (not too thin) cord
White card stock
Snowflake paper punch
Glue or fabric glue
Scissors

draw circles on felt

Take your pencil and draw circles on the felt with the shot glass.  Cut the all out with scissors.   You will get 20 circles from one sheet of felt. Your finished garland will have thirty circles on it.

Lay your string out a section at a time. Work from spool. Place glue on the felt circle with the pencil marks on it.

Start at the very end of the string and place it smack dab in the middle of the circle with the glue on. Place another felt circle on top of that one with glue and align the edges.

Place the next felt circle one circle width away from the first one and continue until you used up all your circles. Trim from spool.

Punch out 60 snowflakes with your snowflake punch from white card stock and glue one to both sides of felt circle.

You can also use a 2″ paper punch instead of felt

Paper Garland

Included in the giveaway will be the felt and two paper garlands.  You have to leave a comment in every post to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13.  See Day 1 for more information.

I have two projects with craft cones for you today!

Christmas Cone

This is a craft cone I covered with Christmas art paper. I made a bunch of these and will be using them as gift bags this year. You can also use them in place of the traditional Christmas stocking for stocking stuffers and hang them on your fireplace. I used the largest cones I could find.

Supplies:

Large Craft Cone (JoAnn’s, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby)
12X12 Art/Designer paper, Christmas paper, recycled paper
Acrylic Paint
Cord, ribbon or wire for handle
Glue
Scissors
Hole Punch
Embellishments

I painted the inside and outside of my cone first with acrylic paint, but it’s not necessary to paint the outside. Let dry overnight.

Cover craft cone in glue and wrap paper around it. Don’t be too concerned with the bottom just the tip of the cone.

Let dry completely and trim off the excess paper at the bottom (open end) of the cone with scissors.

Punch holes on either side of the cone, thread cord through from the inside of cone and tie knots on each end. Add a dab of glue to each knot.

Now it’s ready for you to embellish. Add glitter, a name, flowers, picture. Anything you want.

NOT INCLUED IN GIVEAWAY

What’s Christmas without a Christmas tree cone?

Supplies:

Craft Cone any size
Yarn any color
Glue
Poms Poms
Glitter
2 card stock paper stars for top
Toothpick
Scissors

Punch a small hole at the tip of the cone for the star topper.

You need to work fast once the glue is on the cone.
Cover the cone with glue and wrap yarn around the cone starting from the bottom. You don’t want any of the cone to show so be generous with the yarn coverage.

Be careful how you wrap the yarn.  You don’t want it loose and you don’t want to pull it tight.

Trim yarn, glue down end, and let dry.

While cone is drying, make your star toppers. Add glue to both stars and sprinkle glitter on them. Let dry.

Glue your poms poms onto the cone in a random pattern.

Glue stars back-to-back onto the toothpick and stick on top of your tree.

Tip: not only the color of yarn you choose, but the type of yarn will make all the difference in the world. I would not use the traditional type of yarn for this project. Use something with more texture.

Red striped cone included in giveaway. You have to leave a comment in all twelve posts to get your name entered into random drawing on December 13.  See Day 1 for more information

Enjoy,

jeannie